Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech men's swimming and diving team has announced the signing of two swimmers and one diver to national letters of intent for the 2009-2010 academic year.
Thomas Sheranek, a native of Richmond, Va., comes to Virginia Tech from Mills E. Godwin High School and excels in the backstroke and individual events. Sheranek has earned multiple All-American honors in high school and was also a part of a Junior National Championship Team. Swimming under the guidance of coach Geoff Brown at NOVA, Sheranek is a multiple junior national qualifier. One of the top swimmers from Virginia, he chose the H2Okies over Virginia. Sherank posts top times of 1:52.30 and 4:00.90 in the 200 IM and 400 IM, respectively, while touching in with a time of 51.10 in the 100 back and 1:47.60 in the 200 back.
“Having Tom join our program excites us tremendously,” said head swimming and diving coach Ned Skinner. “Tom will immediately impact the H2Okies in the backstroke and the individual medley, while adding depth in the mid freestyle events. With Tom’s excellent training background and size, we feel he will climb the charts in the ACC.”
Logan Shinholser is from Burtonsville, Md., and is a student at Paint Branch High School. Shinholser is an up and coming diver who stems from an extremely strong gymnastics and trampoline background. In the short amount of time in which he transitioned his abilities to diving, Shinholser has already come onto the national scene in both springboard and platform events. In his senior year he is expected to be have a breakthrough season, as one of the top junior divers in the country. Logan represents the Montgomery Dive Club coached by John Wolsh. He possesses all the skill and qualities to make an immediate impact for the 2009-2010 H2Okies swimming and diving squad and could possibly be the top male diving recruit to enter the ACC next season. Shinholser chose Virginia Tech over North Carolina, Kentucky, and Texas.
“I am thrilled to have Logan as a diver,” said head diving coach Ron Piemonte. “His skill and ability will help solidify Virginia Tech as one of the top diving programs in the conference. He is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential, and I am looking forward to taking part in his overall development coming to fruition.”
Adam Skipper comes to the Hokies from Yorktown, Va. and Tabb High School. He swims for the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins under the guidance of coaches Steve Griffin and Steve Hennessy while at Tabb High School. Skipper is a fast improving member of the sport and has quickly displayed his talents in the pool. Excelling in the sprint freestyle, sprint breaststroke and the 200 IM, Skipper enjoyed the summer improving in all events and dropped huge numbers in each area. Skipper is a junior national qualifier and chose Virginia Tech over South Carolina. Skipper’s had top times in the 50 free of 21.20 and posted a 57.50 time in the 100 breast, along with touching with a time of 1:53.70 in the 200 IM.
“Adam is a fine young man who is proving to be a diamond in the rough,” said Skinner. “I feel he has not reached a glimpse of what he is capable of achieving in this sport and I am glad he will be wearing a Virginia Tech cap next fall.”